Trace Awards: Davido, Rema steal the spotlight (See full list)

Nigerian music stars, Davido and Rema, have garnered significant recognition and acclaim at the inaugural Trace Awards, held in Kigali, Rwanda, on October 21, 2023.

The ceremony aimed to honor the ingenuity, talent, and influence of African and Afro-inspired musicians.

During the event, Rema secured the ‘Song of the Year’ award for his hit track ‘Calm Down,’ while the coveted ‘Best Global African Artiste’ title was jointly awarded to both Davido and Nomcebo.

Davido, on the other hand, emerged triumphant in two categories, ‘Best Male’ and ‘Best Collaboration,’ while Burna Boy clinched the ‘Album of the Year’ accolade.

The Trace Awards ceremony was expertly hosted by Nigerian singer D’Banj and Angolan supermodel Maria Borges. Here is the comprehensive list of winners from the 2023 Trace Awards:

Album of the Year:

• Love Damini – Burna Boy (Nigeria) – Winner
• DNK – Aya Nakamura (France)
• Maverick – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
• More Love, Less Ego – Wizkid (Nigeria)
• Timeless – Davido (Nigeria)

Song of the Year:

• Winner: “Calm Down” – Rema (Nigeria)
• “Last Last” – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• “Rush” – Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• “Peru” – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (UK)
• “Sete” – K.O (South Africa)
• “Cough” – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
• “MORTEL 06” – Innoss’B (DRC)
• “BKBN” – Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
• “People” – Libianca (Cameroon)
• “Suavemente” – Soolking (France)
• “Encre” – Emma’a (Gabon)
• “Sugarcane” – Camidoh (Ghana)

Best Music Video:

• Winner: “Baddie” – Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
• “Kpaflotage” – Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
• “Loaded” – Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) & Asake (Nigeria)
• “Ronda” – Blxckie (South Africa)
• “Tombolo” – Kalash (Martinique)
• “Yatapita” – Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Best Male:

• Winner: Davido (Nigeria)
• Asake (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Didi B (Ivory Coast)
• K.O (South Africa)
• Rema (Nigeria)

Best Female:

• Winner: Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Josey (Ivory Coast)
• Nadia Mukami (Kenya)
• Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
• Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)

Best Collaboration:

• Winner: “Unavailable” – Davido (Nigeria) ft Musa Keys (South Africa)
• “Many Ways” – BNXN (Nigeria) ft Wizkid (Nigeria)
• “Mine” – Show Dem Camp (Nigeria) ft Oxlade (Nigeria)
• “Peru” – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) ft Ed Sheeran (UK)
• “Second Sermon” – Black Sherif (Ghana) ft Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• “Sete” – K.O (South Africa) ft Young Stunna (South Africa), Blxckie (South Africa)
• “Stamina” – Tiwa Savage ft Ayra Starr (Nigeria) & Young Jonn (Nigeria)
• “Trumpet” – Olamide (Nigeria) ft Ckay (Nigeria)

Best Newcomer:

• Winner: Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast)
• Azawi (Uganda)
• Krys M (Cameroon)
• Libianca (Cameroon)
• Nissi (Nigeria)
• Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
• Pabi Cooper (South Africa)

Best DJ:

• Winner: Michael Brun (Haiti)
• Danni Gato (Cape Verde)
• DJ BDK (Ivory Coast)
• DJ Illans (France)
• DJ Spinall (Nigeria)
• Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)

Best Producer:

• Winner: Tam Sir (Ivory Coast)
• DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
• Juls (Ghana)
• Kabza de Small (South Africa)
• Kel-P (Nigeria)

Best Gospel Artiste:

• Winner: KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
• Benjamin Dube (South Africa)
• Janet Otieno (Kenya)
• Levixone (Uganda)
• Moses Bliss (Nigeria)

Best Live:

• Winner: Fally Ipupa (DRC)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Musa Keys (South Africa)
• The Compozers (Ghana)
• Wizkid (Nigeria)
• Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best Dancer:

• Winner: Robot Boii (South Africa)
• Tayc (France)
• Uganda Ghetto Kids (Uganda)
• Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
• Zuchu (Tanzania)

Best Artiste Africa – Anglophone:

• Winner: Asake (Nigeria)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Black Sherif (Ghana)
• Davido (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Fireboy DML (Nigeria)

Best Artiste Africa – Francophone:

• Winner: Didi B (Ivory Coast)
• Emma’a (Gabon)
• Fally Ipupa (DRC)
• KO-C (Cameroon)
• Locko (Cameroon)
• Serge Beynaud (Ivory Coast)
• Viviane Chidid (Senegal)

Best Artiste Africa – Lusophone:

• Winner: Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)
• Gerilson Insrael (Angola)
• Perola (Angola)
• Plutonio (Mozambique)
• Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)

Best Artiste – Rwanda:

• Winner: Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
• Ariel Wayz (Rwanda)
• Bwiza (Rwanda)
• Chriss Eazy (Rwanda)
• Kenny Sol (Rwanda)

Best Artiste – East Africa:

• Winner: Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
• Zuchu (Tanzania)
• Khaligraph (Kenya)
• Nadia Mukani (Kenya)
• Azawi (Uganda)

Best Artiste – France & Belgium:

• Winner: Tayc (France)
• Aya Nakamura (France)
• Booba (France)
• Nihno (France)
• Ronisia (France)
• Soolking (France)

Best Artiste – UK:

• Winner: Central Cee (UK)
• Headie One (UK)
• Ms Banks (UK)
• Raye (UK)
• Stormzy (UK)

Best Artiste – The Caribbean:

• Winner: Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti)
• Admiral T (Guadeloupe)
• Bamby (French Guiana)
• Kalash (Martinique)
• Maureen (Martinique)
• Popcaan (Jamaica)
• Princess Lover (Martinique)
• Shenseea (Jamaica)

Best Artiste – Indian Ocean:

• Winner: Goulam (Comoros)
• Donovan BTS (Mauritius)
• GaEi (Madagascar)
• Mik’l (Reunion)
• Sega el (Reunion)
• Terrell Elymoor (Mayotte)

Best Artiste – Brazil:

• Winner: Ludmilla (Brazil)
• Djonga (Brazil)
• Iza (Brazil)
• Leo Santana (Brazil)
• Luedji Luna (Brazil)

Best Artiste – North Africa:

• Winner: Dystinct (Morocco)
• Amira Zouhair (Morocco)
• Artmasta (Tunisia)
• El Grande Toto (Morocco)
• Kader Japonais (Algeria)
• Raja Meziane (Algeria)